Navigating Financial Aid at Florida State University

Paying for college is a significant undertaking, but Florida State University (FSU) provides various resources and guidance to help students manage their educational expenses. From understanding tuition costs to exploring housing options near campus, being informed about available financial aid opportunities is key to setting yourself up for success. FSU offers two main types of financial assistance: need-based and merit-based aid.

Understanding the Basics

FAFSA: Your First Step

Every student seeking federal aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. It is essential to file your FAFSA on October 1st every year for the next Fall-Spring-Summer academic year. You can apply for financial aid after this date, but completing your FAFSA timely means submitting it at least two months before the semester begins. This form determines your eligibility for federal and state financial aid. The sooner you apply, the better your chances of receiving aid. Don’t miss out-be sure to keep an eye on FSU’s priority deadlines for financial aid. You’ll also need documentation like tax forms and household income info. Once you’ve submitted your FAFSA, you’ll receive a financial aid award notification outlining grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.

Types of Financial Aid

FSU can help you identify the resources that will get your future online. FSU participates in grant programs at the institutional, state, and federal level. A need-based form of aid, grants don't need to be repaid. Award amounts vary and can sometimes depend on the availability of funds. Grants are awarded to eligible students. For students who demonstrate financial need, federal work-study programs help students earn money to help pay for school. Work-study jobs are often, though not always, on campus and are funded by the federal government and universities. Available to eligible students, federal Stafford loans are a form of aid that must be repaid. The loans are guaranteed by the federal government who also sets the interest rate and assesses a loan fee. FSU encourages students to borrow only what is necessary to pay for educational expenses. Scholarships are awarded based on a wide range of qualifications and don't have to be repaid, making them a great way to help fund your education.

Grants: These are a great starting point-they don’t need to be repaid and are typically awarded based on financial need. At FSU, eligible students may receive grants like the Pell Grant, which helps cover tuition and other expenses for qualifying undergraduates.
Scholarships: An FSU scholarship can be awarded based on academic performance, financial need, or specific student achievements. One of the most popular awards for Florida residents is the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, which covers a significant portion of tuition for eligible students. Qualified students may apply for multiple scholarships but, most often, will receive only one per year. It is university policy that all scholarship recipients must prepare a letter of appreciation to the donor before receiving funds. Scholarships are awarded in the fall semester and may cause an adjustment to financial aid award packages. Students are responsible for consulting the Financial Services Office to determine if their awards are affected by any additional funds.
Loans: When grants and scholarships don’t cover everything, student loans can help fill the gap. FSU students can apply for federal loans (like Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans), which come with flexible repayment terms.
Work-Study Programs: For students who demonstrate financial need, federal work-study programs help students earn money to help pay for school. Work-study jobs are often, though not always, on campus and are funded by the federal government and universities.

Disbursement of Financial Aid

Financial aid is generally disbursed per semester, starting a few business days before classes begin. Funds are first applied to university charges (like Florida State University tuition), and any remaining balance is refunded to you. Financial aid can help with more than just tuition-books, food, transportation, and housing all factor into the cost of attending FSU. Students are encouraged to track their spending and plan for each term.

Be sure to enroll in direct deposit so we can issue your refund. Financial Aid refunds are normally sent within three business days of the date the award posted to your FSU bill. Expert tip: Be sure to check your FSU bill after your financial aid posts to be sure everything happened the way you expected. Your FSU bill is dynamic as your enrollment changes & state and federal financial aid payment rules might mean that we have to send you a refund even when a portion of your bill is unpaid. If we’ve taken the time to reach out to you, there’s probably a good reason. Should you feel that you may benefit from a deferment, please contact the Office of Student Finance here.

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FSU’s standard disbursement window begins on the fifth day of class, just after drop / add and runs through the end of the semester. Students who applied for financial aid early and are enrolled in at least 6 credit hours before the term begins might qualify for early disbursement. Early disbursement begins just before the term starts. Expert tip: To qualify for early disbursement complete all of your financial aid documents early and register for at least 6 credit hours during your normal enrollment appointment. Enroll in 6 (or more) credits during your Enrollment Appointment to qualify for Early Disbursement. You can still qualify for standard disbursement if you are enrolled in 6 (or more) credits by the end of Drop / Add, but don’t expect your financial aid early if you wait to register for class.

Understanding Tuition and Fees

Tuition and Fee Structure

As a public university, The Florida State University offers a premium education at an affordable price. However, the costs may still break your budget. Tuition and fees are collected by the Office of Student Finance. Tuition Payments and Arrangements. Tuition and fees are due according to the established due dates found through MyFSU. Financial aid is disbursed up to ten days prior to the start of classes and as received by the University any time thereafter. Assessment of Fees. Fees are established by the Florida State University Board of Trustees and the Florida State Legislature and are subject to change. The University will calculate and assess the charges to be settled for fees due based on the fee rates authorized by the Florida State University Board of Trustees and the student's schedule. At the time of payment, students should also review their payment receipt to verify the payment made, any outstanding charges owed, or any outstanding arrangements.

Fees are established by the Florida State University Board of Trustees and the Florida State Legislature and are subject to change. The University will calculate and assess the charges to be settled for fees due based on the fee rates authorized by the Florida State University Board of Trustees and the student's schedule. At the time of payment, students should also review their payment receipt to verify the payment made, any outstanding charges owed, or any outstanding arrangements. Payments made by credit card will incur a 2.75% service fee for cards drawn on domestic bank accounts and 4.25% service fee for international cards. ACH/Electronic Check transactions will not carry a service fee. Payments made by International Wire do not carry a service fee, but the student's bank may charge wire fees or other administrative costs. Students who do not pay tuition and fees or make payment arrangements by the established deadline for each term will be assessed a $100.00 late payment fee and may have their course schedule cancelled.

Residency for Tuition Purposes

There’s a significant difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at FSU. Florida residents benefit from lower tuition rates, while non-residents can expect to pay more. Good news-out-of-state students are still eligible for many types of aid, including federal grants, loans, and some FSU scholarships.

The Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes Policy is based upon state statute, rules of the two higher education governing boards in Florida, and statewide guidelines developed by college and university administrators in conjunction with the Statewide Residency Committee and the Florida Department of Education. Section 1009.21, Florida Statutes, outlines the broad legal parameters for establishing residency for tuition purposes in Florida public higher education institutions. It is the highest level of authority regarding residency as established by the Florida Legislature.

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At Florida State University there are three offices responsible for the review of residency for tuition purposes: the Office of Admissions, the College of Law, and the College of Medicine. The Office of Admissions determines residency for first-time-on-campus students except for the applicants to the College of Law or College of Medicine which are handled by their respective admissions staff. Reclassification determinations for students who enroll as out-of-state students for tuition purposes and wish to change to in-state students for tuition purposes are handled by the Office of Admissions. Each residency decision will be determined based upon all available information from the application for admission and the "Florida Residency Declaration for Tuition Purposes" form. Students who are denied the classification of Florida resident for tuition purposes have the right of appeal. The appeal must be based upon new information that was not made available during the initial review. All appeals must be in writing to the Residency Appeal Committee, care of the Office of Admissions. Appeals should be submitted as soon as possible after receipt of the initial decision and no later than the end of the term for which Florida residency for tuition purposes is desired.

A Residency Guidelines document was adopted by the Articulation Coordinating Committee to assist college and university administrators in implementing Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes Policy. The Guidelines are maintained by the Statewide Residency Committee which is comprised of residency experts from the state's public colleges and universities. A Florida resident is a student who has, or a dependent person whose parent or legal guardian has, established and maintained legal residency in Florida for at least twelve months preceding the first day of classes of the term for which residency is sought. Residence in Florida must be as a bona fide domicile rather than for the purpose of maintaining a residence incident to enrollment at an institution of higher education. Other persons not meeting the twelve-month legal residency requirement may be considered as Florida residents for tuition purposes only if they fall within one of the exception categories authorized by the Florida Legislature and State Board of Education. Living in or attending school in Florida will not establish legal residence for tuition purposes. Each student shall submit a Florida Residency Declaration for Tuition Purposes form, electronically or in another format, and the documentation required to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes. The burden of providing clear and convincing documentation that justifies the University's classification of a student as a resident for tuition purposes rests with the student.

Additional Fees

Registration for zero credit hours provides for examinations, graduations, use of facilities, etc., when deemed appropriate by the institution. The student is assessed Resident tuition and fees for one credit hour.

Here's a breakdown of some common fees:

Application Fee: $30.00
Admission Deposit: $200.00
New Student Orientation Fee: $35.00. This fee is assessed when new students register to attend the required University orientation program. Students are charged a base orientation fee of $35.00 per person, regardless of the session type or term entering FSU. This covers educational sessions, materials, and staffing. When registering for Orientation, additional costs may be assessed to students and/or guests to provide a quality and seamless experience. Some of these costs can include a dining charge or an overnight housing accommodations charge and may depend on admit term, admit type, etc.
Late Registration Fee: $100.00
Late Payment Fee: $100.00
Replacement FSUCards: $15.00
Transcript Fee: $10.00
Installment Contract Fee: $15.00 per contract
Transportation Access Fee: $8.90 per credit hour. Rate subject to change. This fee is assessed per credit hour to all main campus students. It covers all modes of transportation on campus such as sidewalks, bikes, mass transit (on- and off-campus buses), and vehicles. Revenue generated by this fee is used to improve the overall infrastructure of campus for all students.
Returned Check Charge/Stop Payment Charge: $25.00 or five percent (5%) of the amount of the check, whichever is greater (rate subject to change). A returned check/stop payment charge is assessed against the account of a student who has a check or electronic authorization for payment returned by the bank to Florida State University.

Florida State University automatically submits all personal checks twice for payment if the check was returned once for insufficient or uncollected funds. Returned check charges are assessed for all personal checks written and electronic payments authorized for tuition, fees, or any services provided by the University that are returned to Florida State University for insufficient funds, uncollected funds, and stop payments placed on checks. In addition to the returned check charge, if the initial payment is for tuition and redemption of the returned item is not made prior to the tuition payment deadline, a late payment fee is assessed to tuition and student may be subject to tuition cancellation. Florida State University places a hold on accepting any personal checks or electronic payment authorizations from anyone on the student's account for ninety days after redemption for any services, tuition, or fees that are owed to the University if a personal check or electronic payment is returned. Redemption must be paid with cash, money order, or cashier's check. If not paid in a timely manner, a paper letter is sent to the address on the check or to the last maintained address in Florida State University's records. A copy of the notification letter will be sent to the maker of the check at the address on the check, if the student is not the person on whose account the funds are drawn. After notification that a check has been returned, redemption including the service charge must be made by seven working days with cash, money order, or cashier's check. Florida State University reserves the right to forward returned checks to the State Attorney's office for redemption and prosecution after collection efforts are exhausted.

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Other fees may include:

Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation Fees: All Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation students are required to submit their manuscripts to ProQuest directly. There is no fee associated with traditional publishing.
Loss and Damage Fees: At cost. Students who lose or damage equipment may be assessed a breakage or loss fee to pay for breakage or loss of equipment. Upon completion of the course, the instructor will prepare a listing of the cost of all such lost and damaged equipment and assess the student a loss or damage fee.
Scientific Laboratory Fees: Varies. Students enrolled in certain laboratory courses are assessed a fee that is used to offset the cost of scientific materials or items consumed in the course of the students' laboratory activities.

The annual estimated costs listed below are for the 2022-2023 academic year and do not include Summer tuition and related expenses. 1 The tuition and fee estimate is based on thirteen semester hours for undergraduate students attending two terms (Fall and Spring) per year at the Tallahassee campus. 4 Students who currently have health insurance may show proof of comparable coverage and may not be required to purchase the University policy. Payment of registration fees and tuition detailed below is an integral part of the registration process. Registration (including payment of fees) must be completed on or before the proper due date. The appropriate University office must be provided a properly executed authorization to defer fees prior to the deadline published in the academic calendar in those cases where fees are to be paid by a previously approved loan, scholarship, or other third-party arrangement. Florida Prepaid College Program does not pay the full amount due, nor do Intern Participation Certificates.

Payment Options

Students who enroll must pay fees and tuition in full or initiate an installment contract by the tuition payment deadline. We encourage students to submit their third-party agency billings as soon as they have registered for classes. All waivers, agency billings, and department billings for all students must be submitted by the third day of the term. Financial aid deferments will be entered by the Office of Financial Aid for eligible student accounts. If tuition is not paid or arrangements have not been made by the posted deadlines, a late payment fee will be assessed. Any course added after the tuition payment deadline must be paid in full within five days or a $100.00 late payment fee will be assessed. Note that other University related fees have separate and earlier deadlines.

Florida State University does not accept two-party checks or foreign checks for payment. We accept FSUCards, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, and electronic checks via Internet only. Payment methods are described below.

Installment Contracts: The Student Finance Tuition Installment Contract is a form of tuition payment plan that the University offers. This plan is only available in the Fall and Spring terms. Through this plan, students must pay half (tuition and fees greater than $150.00) of their currently owed tuition, plus a $15.00 Installment Contract Fee, by noon on the main campus tuition payment deadline. The second half of the installment payment is due by the sixth week of class.
Convenient Drop Box for Payments: Student Finance will accept check, money order, or cashier's check in our drop box. Our secure payment drop box is located outside our office at A1500 University Center. It is available for check payments 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including holidays and weekends. All payments will be receipted by the next business day. All checks, money orders, and cashier's checks should be made payable to Florida State University or FSU. Insert a check, money order, or cashier's check in the provided envelope, and put the envelope in the drop box. Payments are processed the next business day. on the tuition payment deadline will be considered on time. will be considered late and assessed a $100.00 late payment fee. Please do not deposit cash. We will not process foreign checks or two-party checks. Please do not send cash. Checks not received by the tuition payment deadline will be considered late and will be assessed a $100.00 late payment fee. We will not process foreign checks, checks not completed properly, or two-party checks. Checks not properly completed will be considered late.
Agency Billing: Students are responsible for all tuition and fees upon registration. Students who are requesting their tuition be paid by an agency must submit the required documents as soon as possible, but no later than the third day of the semester, and preferably thirty days in advance. Those students receiving financial aid should submit the documents by the third day of the semester; otherwise, tuition will be deducted from the student's financial aid and refunds will not be made to the student until the agency or department makes their payment to the Office of Student Finance. Financial aid students must report this payment as an income source on their application, or upon further evaluation by the Office of Student Financial Aid, the student may be "over-awarded" and may be required to repay financial aid to the University. If the agency or department has not paid the tuition by the end of the current semester, a late payment fee of $100.00 will be assessed to the student's account.

Important Considerations

Keep up with the paperwork! Once your FAFSA is processed by the government, you will be sent a document called a Student Aid Report (SAR).
Check your FSU bill through my.fsu.edu before the fee payment deadline every semester to be sure that your bill accurately reflects your schedule and is paid on time.
In-person payments are no longer accepted, but agents are available to review student accounts and answer questions.
All waivers, agency billings, and department billings for all students must be submitted by the third day of the term.

Additional Financial Aid Opportunities

Merit-Based Scholarships

The Office of Admissions automatically considers admitted students for academic merit-based scholarships. There is no separate application.

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship is a state-funded merit award for high-achieving Florida residents. Requirements vary by award level, but typically include a strong GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and community service.

Summer Financial Aid

Yes. Summer financial aid is available for eligible students. Disbursement happens a few days before the start of each term. Start by completing the FAFSA.

Housing and Financial Aid

Looking for off-campus housing while using your financial aid? Financial aid can help with more than just tuition; books, food, transportation, and housing all factor into the cost of attending FSU. Students are encouraged to track their spending and plan for each term. Looking for a place that fits your budget?

Seeking Assistance

Paying for college is a big deal-but at Florida State University, you’re not alone. If we’ve taken the time to reach out to you, there’s probably a good reason. Should you feel that you may benefit from a deferment, please contact the Office of Student Finance.

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